Piler mechanism for metal sheets



July 7, 1959 D. BucclcoNE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1956 l ll'lllLFll D. BUCCICONE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS July 7, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1956 IN V EN TOR. Del/40 EZLCCLCO/Ze, BY M$MM D. BUCCICONE 1 2,893,573

FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS July 7, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1956 mmyron. flQ/ZO Eacca C0726,

July 7, 1959 D. BUCCICONE FILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Filed Feb. 2, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY WM United States Patent PILER MECHANISM FOR METAL SHEETS Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind., assignor to Bucciconi Engineering Company, Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 2, 1956, Serial No. 563,092

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) This invention relates to mechanisms for piling metal sheets as they are received from a high speed processing line and is more particularly concerned with improved edge aligning and sheet supporting devices for such mechanisms.

In the handling of metal sheets, particularly in the initial processing of such sheets in the steel mills, where the sheets are delivered from a high speed processing line, such as from a continuous shear which is capable of delivering cut sheets at a rate of 500 per minute or more, piling of the sheets mechanically in a rapid and efiicient manner without damage to the sheets has been a difficult problem. In my prior patents, No. 2,374,174, dated April 24, 1945, and No. 2,527,911, dated October 31, 1950, I have illustrated mechanism which will pile sheets rapidly and efiiciently and avoid damage to the sheets as they are accumulated in the pile. In these prior machines the sheets are accumulated on a suitable support such as a roller conveyor section or an elevator beneath the delivery conveyor and at intervals the delivery of the sheets is interrupted for a suflicient length of time to remove the pile and start a new one. The interruption of the operation of the delivery conveyor, of course, slows down the rate of production and the full capacity of the continuous shear is not realized because of the inability of the piling apparatus to eflicient- 1y pile the sheets and remove the piles without interruption of the delivery of the sheets from the shear. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a piler mechanism in which provision is made for removing the pile from time to time without interrupting the delivery of the sheets from the shear or other processing apparatus. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a sheet piling mechanism having provision for removing the pile from time to time without interrupting the delivery of the sheets to the mechanism.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a mechanism for piling metal sheets which are delivered by an overhead conveyor wherein provision is made for temporarily supporting the sheets for the start of another pile while the pile formed by the preceding sheets is being removed from the mechanism.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide a sheet piling mechanism wherein the sheets are delivered to the mechanism in a continuous stream by an overhead conveyor which releases the successive sheets for deposit on the pile, wherein the pile of sheets is received on a vertically movable platform, and wherein the mechanism is provided with temporary sheet supporting means which may be interposed in the path of the sheets as they settle onto the pile to temporarily support the sheets and start a new pile while the accumulated sheets are removed from beneath the same and the supporting platform is cleared to receive the new pile of sheets from the temporary supporting means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism for piling metal sheets which are delivered thereto in a continuous stream by an overhead conveyor and which are released for piling beneath the same, which mechanism comprises a movable platform mounted in spaced relation below the conveyor for receiving the sheets as they are released therefrom, and temporary sheet supporting members mounted for movement into and out of sheet supporting position between the conveyor and the platform, the temporary sheet supporting members being adapted to be positioned to receive the initial sheets in a new pile While the previously accumulated pile of sheets is removed from the supporting platform and the latter is moved to support the new pile of sheets and permit the temporary sheet supporting members to be moved out of sheet supporting position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sheet piling machine wherein the sheets are delivered by an overhead magnetic conveyor and deposited on an elevator mechanism between oppositely disposed side guide members, the side guide members being adjustably mounted for movement toward and from each other and being provided with movable supporting members for the sheets, which supporting members are adapted to be positioned in the path of the sheets as they are released by the conveyor and dropped between the side guides so as to temporarily support the sheets while the pile of sheets which has accumulated on the elevator mechanism is removed therefrom and the elevator is repositioned for receiving the succeeding sheets as the temporary supporting members are withdrawn and the pile is allowed to accumulate on the elevator mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a sheet piling mechanism wherein the sheets are delivered by a magnetic conveyor for deposit on a pile beneath the same, oppositely disposed side guide members mounted in suspended relation beneath the conveyor, power driven means for adjusting the side guide members to position the vertical faces thereof in accordance with the width of the sheets delivered thereto, and sheet supporting mechanism associated with the side guide members and movable into and out of sheet supporting position between the same whereby to provide temporary support for the sheets while previously accumulated sheets are removed from the pile below the same.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the sheet piling mechanism which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a sheet piling mechanism having embodied therein the principal features of the invention, with portions of the mechanism being broken away and other portions being shown schematically and in outline;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation to an enlarged scale at the entrance end of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial transverse section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6' of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of one end of the top frame which supports the side guide structures, to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7, to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10--10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a partial section taken on the same line as Fig. 10 but with the sheet supporting members in a different position of adjustment; and I git udinally spaced sheaves '12' and 13, at least one 'of whichis powerdriven, andjendless 'belts 14 extending around the sheaves. The conveyor rail units11 each "contain electromagnets, not shown, which have down- "wardly facing poles and which, while energized are adapted to holdsheets S against the underside of the belts '14 'so that the'belts' can advance the'sheets toward the left in Figs. land 2. The sheets .8 are delivered to the magnetieconveyor *by a feed conveyor 15 which receives them from the processing line. and delivers them totheentrance'end of the magnetic conveyor 10 which "advances the sheets S in the same direction as the feed conveyor. V I

Power for the magnets in the conveyorlll is controlled by means of. an inducto switch 16 located at the entrance end of'themagnetic conveyor 10. The inducto switch :16 is mounted on an overhead frame 17 and is adjustable jlengthwise or in the direction of advancing movement 'of thesheets S. As the front edge of each sheet passes the inducto'switch 16, the magnets are energized. As soonas the back edge of the sheet passes the switch 16 theconveyor magnets are deenergized and the sheet is released so that it will drop'beneath the conveyor.

A lift arrangement or elevator mechanism 18, which maybe hydraulically or. mechanically operated, is provided-beneath the-conveyor 10 and normally .supports the pileof. sheets as they are released and deposited thereon; by'thetoperation of the :conveyor .10. An end stop mechanismindicated at 20 in Fig. 2 is provided for re- .ceiving the impact of the leadingedge of successive sheets IS as they are releasedby the conveyor 10v and for guidingflthe same onto .the pile. An upright transversely extending back stop plate or member 21 for guidingthe trailing edge of each sheet as it settles onto the pile is arranged adjacent the entrance end of the conveyor 10 .in longitudinally spacedrelation to the end stop mechanism 20. The end stop mechanism 20'may be constructed in accordance with the disclosure inmy copending application Serial No. 231,732, filed June 15, 1951, and now .Patent No. 2,761,682, issued September 4, 1956', which relation along the outer face of a vertically extending application is referred to for a more detailed description of the mechanism-and its operation. -Details of such mechanism are notifurther described herein since they do ,not constitute part of the present invention and they are not deemed necessary for a clear understanding of the same.

The operating sheaves 13 at one end of the conveyor rail units 11 are carried on a drive shaft 22 which extends transversely of a supporting frame structure 23 atone end of the machine (Fig. 1). The shaft 22 is journalled in upstanding side frame members 24, 24 at opposite sides of the supporting frame structure 23, and is connected by a suitable speed reducer 25 to a drive motor 26 which furnishes power for operating the conveyor .10. The sheaves 12 at the other end of the conveyor units 11 are carried on a cross shaft 27 which extends transversely of an end supportingstructure 28 and which is journaled in vupright bearing brackets 29, 29' at opposite sides of the supporting structure 28. The end frame structure 23 also supports the end'stop mechanism 20 which is preferably adjustable longitudinally of the maohineand has ,a power driven adjusting mechanism 20 also supported on the end frame 23. A'rgenerallytrectangular transversely and horizontally extendingttopsupporting frame 30 is arranged between the end frame structures '23 and 28 .above therconveyor 10 'and is -supported at its endson the end frame structures. The top cross frame 30 supportsatopposite sides of the 74 machine and in longitudinally extending parallel relation side guide structures '31, 31' which are substantially identical. Only one of the side guide structures 31 will be described in detail with corresponding details of the other being indicated, when shown, by the same numerals primed.

The side guide structure orunit 31 comprises upper and lower longitudinally extending tubular sections or lengths-of tubular material *32, 33 (Figs. 4 and 5) which are welded or otherwise connectedin vertically spaced sheet guiding plate 34. A series of longitudinally spaced vertical web plates 35 connect the tube sections 32 and 33 on the opposite side and face outwardly of the side of the machine. The side guide structure 31 is provided at its opposite ends with identical upstanding L-shaped supporting arms 36 (Figs. 1 to 5) which are attached to the end -web plates 35 of the structure 31 bylaterally extending connecting plates 37. The connecting plates .37 are welded,.bolted or otherwise fastened to the web guiding plate 34 and which are also spaced longitudinally of the machine.

The supporting arms '36 at each end of the guide frame structure'31 are connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of horizontally disposed slide bar members 40 and 41 which are supported by cross frame 30 for movement in a plane extending in a direction transversely of the machine and of the advancing movement of the sheets S. The side guide structure 31at theopposite side of the machine has its end supportingarms 36' connected to cooperating slide bar members 40' and 41 which are paired with the slide. bar members 40 and 41 at opposite ends of the cross. frame 30.

Therespective pairs ofslide bar members 40, 41' and 41, 40'. are supported in an identical manner at opposite ends of the top cross frame 30 (Fig. 1) and each pair of 'bar-membersis connected to a: horizontally disposed adjusting shaft or sorewv42 having oppositely threaded sections at its opposite ends. .Each of the shafts 42 and its associated slide bar membersis supported in a housing 43 at-the end of the cross frame 30. The shafts 42 are each extended at one end, on the far side of the machine as viewed in'Fig. 1,.and provided with a sprocket 44. A chain 45 connects the sprockets44 with a drive sprocket 460a the powershaft of an operating motor 47 which is mounted on a horizontally extending web plate 48 (Fig.

1) of'the top cross frame 30.

"Each adjusting shaft 42 (Figs. 1, 7v and 8) is journalled inthe verticallyextending side or end wall plates '50 and 50 of the housingl43, the latter having a vertically extending side wall plate51 secured to the cross bar 52 at the end of-the cross frame 30 by means ofbolts 53 or similar fastening elements. The housing 43 comprises a vertically extendingside wall plate 54inoppositely disposed spaced relation tothe side wall plate 51 and a horizontally extending bottom connectingplate 55 which form with the. end plates 50 and 50.an upwardly opening compartment or recess .forreceiv'ing the cross shaft 42 and the associated slide barmembers 40 and 41'. The adjusting 'shaft 42 is provided .on its opposite ends with rightand lefthan'd .threads which .engage-in threaded boresr provided in the nut .forming blocks 56 and 57' which alreattached to the respective slide barmembers 4t and 41'. jThe-nutblocksjli and 57 aresecured to the "slide bar members .40 and 41 adjacent their inner ends and the bar. member. 40.is.provided with. a clearance slot 58 (Fig. 9) .throu-gh which a-reducedneck-portion 59 of thenut 57 on. therbartrnember 41 extends to permit relativemovement- .of the-bar members upon rotation of the adjusting screwporfshaft 42. :The slide bar;members.are

lower and upper guideway forming members 60 and 61 1 which are seated in suitable recesses provided in the bottom plate member 55 and a cap cover plate 62; the latter being secured by screws 63 or other fasteners to the upper face of the housing 43.

The top cross frame 30 is braced by transversely extending brace bars 64 and the side channels 66, 66' are provided with four spaced, apertured plates 67 which are welded or otherwise secured to the same, for attaching thereto cables or chains of a hoist to lift the frame from the machine when its removal is desired. The cross frame 30 is secured at its opposite ends to the end frame supporting structures '23 and 28. The outer sidew all plates 54 of each end housing 43 is provided with projecting bracket members 69 which are welded or otherwise secured thereon and which are connected by bolts 70 to support bracket members 71 which project from the end frame structures 23 and 28, respectively.

The side guide structure 31 is movably supported at its end directly on the end frame structure 28 by means of a cross channel member 72 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is mounted on the end frame 28 and provides on its top surface a supporting track for a roller 73, the latter being rotatably mounted on the end of the stub shaft 74 which has its other end rigidly secured in the end of the tubular member 33 of the side guide 31. The back stop plate member 21 is provided with a transverse slot 75 to accommodate the roller carrying shaft 74 and permit transverse movement of the guide structure 31. The opposite end of the guide structure 31 is supported in a similar manner on the end frame structure 23, the latter having a supporting roller 76 (Fig. 2) mounted on a stub shaft 77 projecting from its vertical face and the side guide structure 31 having a track forming angle bar 78 secured across its end face.

The side guide structures 31, 31' each carry a mechanism 80, 80' (Fig. 3) which may be positioned for temporarily supporting the side edges of sheets released by the conveyor 10 at an elevation above a pile of sheets previously accumulated on the elevator mechanism 18 to permit the accumulated pile of sheets to be removed from the elevator without interrupting the flow of sheets to the mechanism. The temporary sheet supporting mechanisms 80, 80 are identical in structure and only one will be described in detail.

The sheet supporting mechanism 80 which is mounted on the side guide structure 31 comprises a relatively narrow elongate supporting plate 81 which is disposed horizontally and longitudinally of the machine along the lower edge of the vertical side guide plate 34. The plate 81 is secured along its outer margin or edge to the bottom of an elongate tubular section or member 82. The tubular section 82 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced generally triangular shaped supporting bracket plates 83 (Fig. which are disposed in transverse planes and which extend outwardly and upwardly of the tubular section 82 in a direction opposite to the sheet supporting plate 81. Each of the bracket plates 83 carries a pair of spaced roller supporting pins or shafts 84 which are extended on opposite sides of the face of the plate 83 and which receive on their opposite ends pairs of supporting rollers 86 and 87. The support ng rollers 86 and 87 are received in a guideway forming housing 88 which extends outwardly of the outer face of the side guide frame 31. The housing 88 is secured to a web plate 35 of the frame 31 by an upright end plate 89 which is welded or otherwise secured to the end of the housing 88. The plate 89 is secured by bolts 90 or other fastening means to the web plate 35. The housing 88 is formed by a top plate 91 and two depending side angle plates 92, 93 which have their lower legs turned inwardly in opposing relation to form therebetween a downwardly opening clearance slot 94 for receiving the vertical plate 83. The inturned legs of the side plates 92, 93 form a track for the supporting rollers 86 and 87 which are, of course, free to move longitudinally of the housing 88 to position the sheet supporting plate 81 in extended or non-extended relation to the inner face of the guide plate 34.

The sheet supporting mechanism is provided with an equalizing shaft 95 (Fig. 4) which extends through the tubular section 82 and projects at the ends thereof. Pinions 96 are secured on the ends of the shaft 95 and engage with a rack 97 which is supported on the bottom margin of the plate 98, the latter being secured by bolts 99 to the depending side angle member 93 of the end housings 88 with a spacer plate between the same. Movement of the temporary sheet supporting mechanism 80 causes rotation of the shaft 95, and insures that both ends of the sheet supporting plate 81 will be moved the same distance as the plate 81 is moved into and out of operative position relative to the vertical plane of the guide plate 34.

The sheet supporting mechanism 80 and the corresponding mechanism 80' on the side guide frame 31 at the opposite side of the machine are operated independently of the movement of the side guide frames 31 and 31. The operating mechanism for each of the sheet supporting devices 80, 80 is identical and only one of these will be described in detail. It comprises an air cylinder 100 (Figs. 10 to 12) which is mounted in a housing 101 extending laterally of the side guide frame 31. The housing 101 includes an end wall forming vertical plate 102 which is connected by bolts 103 or similar fastening means to a web plate 35 of the side guide frame 31. The air cylinder 100 is pivoted at 104 to a bracket 105 which is Welded or otherwise secured to the end wall forming plate 106 at the free or outer end of the housing 101. The end of the air cylinder piston rod 107 is pivoted at 108 to a bracket 109 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the tube member 82 of the sheet supporting mechanism 80. Operation of the cylinder 100 and the companion cylinder 100 on the opposite side of the machine is controlled by suitable air valves and a manually operated control switch so that the operator is able to move the sheet supporting plates 81 and 81' inwardly when required for supporting the sheets as they are delivered between the side guides or to hold the plates 81 and 81 in retracted position where they do not interfere with the piling of the sheets directly on the elevator mechanism 18.

In piling relatively light narrow sheets, it is desirable to be able to retract the sheet supporting plate members 81 and 81' and reduce the extent to which they project inwardly of the vertical guide plates 34, 34' of the side guide devices, without completely Withdrawing the members 81 and 8 from supporting relation beneath the edges of the sheets. Accordingly, mechanism may be provided for limiting the retractive movement of the piston rod 107. A suitable mechanism comprises air cylinder 110 which is pivotally connected at 111 to a bracket plate 112, the latter being secured in fixed relation in the housing 101. The piston arm 113 of air cylinder 110 is pivotally connected at 114 to the end of an upstanding arm of a bell crank frame 115. The bell crank frame 115 is pivotally mounted at 116 on the cylinder 100 with the other arm 117 thereof extending forwardly in the same direction as the piston 105. The arm 117 is provided with a pair of pins 118 having stop rollers 119 thereon which are adapted to be moved into a position alongside of the piston rod 107 Where they will be engaged by the end wall of the bracket 109 on the sheet supporting mechanism 80 when the piston 107 is retracted whereby to limit the extent of the movement of the piston 107 upon actuation of the air cylinder 100 to retract the same and with it the sheet supporting plate 81. By controlling the air in auxiliary air cylinder 110, theposition of the stop rollers 119 may be controlled so that the piston 107 may travel a full stroke when the 7 a rollerslllfl-"are"raisedior its strokeim'ay be limited to less than fullimovement-ifby.engagement of .the stop rollers 1119- withrthe? 'endfof" the bracket plate 109. This mechalnism is employed when relativelynarrow sheets are being handled and it is necessary to provide a suflicient' space .betweenithesheet supporting'plates 81 and81 to. pennit "theiplatform of-the elevator mechanismlS to engage 'beneathxthe temporarily. supported sheets and lift them from the supporting'plates 81, '81.

The sheet supporting plates 81, 81i extend substantially ithe fulllength of'the side guide plates 34, 34 and are each provided .with a. plurality ofv generally rectangular --'pad members 120, "120' which are of substantial thick- .ness. and whichfmay'be of fiber or similarmaterial to provide asofter. surface for the sheets to drop on. The l pad members 120, .120. are spaced longitudinally of the supporting plates. 34, 34' at predetermined intervals and I; are shaped'onitheir upper facesto provide arelatively narrow supporting surface 121 for engaging beneath the side marginal portions of the sheets. The pads 120 are provided to prevent sagging of the sheets S when relatively thin sheets are being handled. The longitudinally spaced pads 120, 120 support the sheets at spaced points so that the sheets tend to sag along transverse lines between the pads and assume a somewhat corrugated form'which eliminates the normal tendency -of the sheets to sag or buckle in the longitudinal direction. The sheets of course tend to reinforce each other as they accumulate on the supporting plates 81, 81 and any tendency to sag between supporting points is eliminated as a substantial number of the sheets pile up. The stop rollers 119, 119' may then be lowered by actuating ithe air cylinders 110, 110' and the plates 81, 81' retracted to the position shown in Fig. 12 to provide room for the bottom surface of the sheets to be engaged by "skids placed on the elevator 18 when the latter is raised to take the weight of the sheets oif the temporary supporting members 81, 81'. As indicated at 122, the lower edge ofthe vertical guide plates 34 is cut out at 122 to provide clearance for the pads 120 when the sheet supportingmechanism 80 is retracted and like clearance slots are-provided in the opposite side guide plate 34'.

When relatively narrow and thick sheets are being piled, it is desirable to be able to limit the inward move- -rnent of the edge supporting members 81 and 81 so that they will not be extended the full amount initially and suflicient space will be provided between the inner ends of the same, at the start of the piling operation, for accommodating the skids on the elevator 18 when the latter is raised to take the weight of the sheets, there being noproblem of buckling involved as when relatively light or thin narrow sheets are being piled. A suitable mechanism for controlling the initial inward movement of sheet supporting members 81 and 81' is shown in Figs. 11 and '13, the mechanism being shown in inoperative position in Fig. 11 and in operative position in Fig. 13. This mechanism comprises an elongate tubular housing 130 which is pivotally mounted at 131 on a bracket 132 attached to the outer face of the one side wall plate 133 of the housing 101 and extending along the same in the general direction of the axis of the piston 107. The housing 130 receives in telescoping sliding relation therein a tubular arm member 134 having a nut 135 secured in the inner end thereof and terminating at the other end in a cross member 136 whichforms a hook for engagement with the inner side of. the tube 82 on the sheet supporting mechanism 80 when the device is in operative position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 13. The outer end of the housing 130 is provided with a bearing formation 137 for rotatably receiving the outer end of an adjusting screw 138, the latter-having an inner shoulder 139-and an operating crank or handle 140 being secured on theouter end-thereof. Rotation of the handle 140, ofcourse, adjusts' theposition of the hookmember136.

Thexend '141 offthe.hook member 136 may be pointed or recess is provided in the adjacent wall of the housing member 130 to enable the housing 130 to be latched in operative'position. 'When it is not needed the housing "130 is,'of"course, swung out of operative posit1on as shown in dotted line in Fig. 13 and the sheet supporting members 81 and 81 are allowed to extend the full amount inwardly of the side guidemembers 34 and 34'.

In using the machine," the sheets S are fed to the entrance'end of the conveyor 10 by the feed conveyor '15 in rapid succession. .As the leading edge of each individual sheet passes the inducto switch 16 the electromagnets on. the conveyor rails: 11 are activated. and'the sheet is carried'by the'belts 1'4 beneath the conveyor until the trailing end of the sheet passes the switch '16. As the end of the sheetpasses the control switch 16 the conveyor magnets are deene'rgized and the sheet is released for deposit beneath the conveyor. The sheet is carried forward by its inertia and the leading edge thereof strikes the end stop mechanism 20 which halts its movement and gravity causes it to drop vertically onto the pile beneath the conveyor 10. :The side guide frames 31, 31' are initially adjusted to the proper width or'spacing to accommodate the sheetsbeinghandled and the 'sheets S accumulate on the elevator mechanism 18 (or on skids placed thereon) which is raised initially to support the pile, each sheetbeing'guided onto the pile between the side guideplates 34, 34' by the end stop and back stop :mechanisms. The elevator drops as the sheets pile up on it and when a predetermined number of the sheets have accumulated onthe elevator 18 and it is desired to removethe pile, the elevator is lowered to drop the top of the pile below the edge supporting plates 81,81 and the cylinders 100 are activated by the operator to move .the edge supporting plates 81, 81 inwardly toward each other the required distance to engage beneath the side edges of the sheets as they drop from the conveyor 10. The sheets S are allowed to accumulate on the supporting mechanisms 80, until the pile on the elevator 18 has been removed. Thereafter, the elevator 18 may be raised a sufiicient distance to engage the skids thereon beneath the pile which has accumulated on the supporting plate members 81, 81', after which the latter may be withdrawn by operation of the-cylinders 100, and the piling continued on the elevator 18 as the latter is lowered beneath the conveyor 10-until the pile 'has reached the desired height on the supporting platform of the elevator 18 whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The sheet edge supporting members 81, 81' are illustrated as continuous plate members, but it will be understood that these supporting elements may be in the form of a series of fingers or inwardly extending arms arranged in longitudinally spaced relation in the lengthwise direction of the conveyor-10.

While specific'details of construction have been referred to in illustrating the principles of the invention, it will beunderstood that modifications and variations thereof may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for piling sheets of metallic material which is characterized by an overhead sheet carrier having means to release successive sheets for deposit on a pile beneath the same and mechanism for guiding the sheets onto the pile comprising side guides having oppo- .zaseaors brackets extending .from said supporting fram'e,rollers journalled on said brackets, track members mountedon the side guide for receiving said-rollers, an equalizing shaft journalled in said supporting frame, pinions onthe ends of said shaft, cooperating racks on'the ends of said ,side guide, and means for reciprocating said supporting frame between a position where said finger forming members extend beneath a side marginal edge portion of said sheets as they; arereleased by said conveyor for vdeposit between the vertical faces of said, side. guides, and a retracted position behind one, of said vertical faces.

,2. A sheet pilercomprising, an overhead conveyor for forwarding metal-sheets and releasing the same for desuspending means,v and means for moving said shafts simultaneously to move said side'guide structures relative to each other and position the'sheet guiding faces thereof in spacedrelation in accordance with the width of the sheets being piled, sheet supporting mechanisms movably mounted on said side guide structures, said sheet supporting mechanisms each having a plate member adapted to be positioned in inwardly extending relation to the opposed sheet guiding faces of said side guide structures thereby to engage in supporting relation beneath the side margins of the sheets, an elongate frame on which said plate member is mounted, brackets extending outwardly from said elongate frame, guideway forming members extending outwardly from the side guide structure and rollers mounted on said brackets and engageable with said guideway forming members.

3. In a sheet piler, an overhead magnetic conveyor for advancing successive sheets in a processing line, means controlling the operation of said conveyor for releasing said sheets for deposit on a pile beneath said conveyor, longitudinally spaced end stop and back stop mechanisms beneath said conveyor for guiding the leading and trailing edges of the sheets as they settle onto the pile and side guide mechanism comprising an overhead frame adjacent said conveyor, hanger brackets depending from opposite ends of said frame, longitudinally extending vertical side guide members mounted in oppositely disposed relation on said hanger brackets, means on said frame for moving said hanger brackets toward and from each other to adjust the distance between said side guide members in accordance with the width of the sheets, oppositely disposed horizontal sheet supporting members ar ranged beneath said side guide members, carriage forming brackets on said sheet supporting members, track forming brackets extending outwardly of said side guide members for cooperation with said carriage forming brackets to support the sheet supporting members for movement in a horizontal plane, and means for moving said sheet supporting members into and out of selected sheet supporting positions independently of the adjustment of said side guide members.

4. A sheet piler comprising a magnetic conveyor for forwarding metal sheets and releasing the same for deposit on a pile beneath the conveyor, a supporting frame associated with said conveyor, oppositely disposed side guide structures movably supported on said frame and having opposed vertical guide plates, means on said supporting frame for moving said side guide structures simultaneously to position the inner faces of said guide plates in spaced relation in accordance with the width of the sheets being piled, outwardly extending brackets on said side guide structures having track forming portions, carriages movably mounted on said track forming portions, sheet supporting mechanisms mounted on said carriages, said sheet supporting mechanisms having members extending horizontally toward each other and movable between selected positions in inwardly extending relation to' the opposed faces of said vertical guide plates 1 where they engage in'supporting relation beneath the opposite side margins of the sheets and a retracted nonrsupporting position outside of the vertical planes in 1 which the opposed faces of said guide plates lie, and means for moving saidsheet supporting mechanisms independently of the movement of said side guide structures to position said horizontally extending members in selected sheet engaging positions or in non-engaging position;

5. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets delivered by an overhead conveyor from a processing line, side guides having opposed vertically extending faces for guiding the side edges of the sheets as they are deposited on the pile, means mounting said side guides for horizontal movement toward and from each other to adjust the distance between the opposed faces in accordance with the lateral dimension of the sheets, a sheet supporting mechanism movably mounted on the side guides, said sheet supporting mechanism having edge engaging means extending inwardly of said side guides for positioning beneath the sheets along their opposite marginal edges, and carriage forming portions for said edge engaging means, horizontal trackway formations extending normal to the vertical faces of the side guides for receiving said carriage forming portions, means for moving said carriage forming portions on said trackway formations to position said edge engaging means in extended sheet engaging relation at a predetermined distance from the vertical faces of the side guides, and means for limiting the movement of said sheet edge engaging means when it is retracted toward the non-engaging position and thereby prevent complete withdrawal of the same from the sheet engaging position.

6. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets delivered by an overhead conveyor from a processing line, side guides having opposed vertical faces for guiding the side edges of the sheets as they are deposited on the pile, means mounting said side guides for movement toward and from each other to adjust the horizontal distance between the opposed faces in accordance with the lateral dimension of the sheets, sheet supporting mechanisms movably mounted on the side guides, said sheet supporting mechanisms having elongate plate member for engaging beneath the sheets along their opposite side marginal edges, carriage forming means on said plate members, track forming means extending outwardly of said side guides for cooperation with said carriage forming means to support the plate members for movement in a horizontal plane, and means for moving said plate members into and out of selected sheet supporting positions independently of the adjustment of said side guides.

7. In a mechanism as recited in claim 6, and pad members of relatively soft resilient material arranged in spaced relation lengthwise of said plate members.

8. A sheet piler comprising an overhead conveyor for forwardly metal sheets and releasing the same for deposit on a pile beneath the conveyor, a supporting frame removably mounted above said conveyor, oppositely disposed side guide structures having inner vertically extending faces, end supports suspending said side guide structures on said frame, said end supports having screw operated means for moving said side guide structures to position the inner faces thereof in spaced relation in accordance with the Width of the sheets being piled and sheet supporting mechanisms adjustably mounted on said side guide structures, said side guide structures having track forming members extending outwardly thereof, said sheet supporting mechanisms having members extending horizontally toward each other and bracket members extending in the direction of said track forming members, means movably connecting said bracket members with said track forming members for horizontal movement in a path extending normal to the opposed faces of said side guide structures whereby said horizontally aextending meihbers inayzbe:selectivelyipositioned in inwardly :iextendingtbrelationit to zisaid verticallytzsrextending faces. wheretthey iengage'finisupporting relation beneath the 0pposite": side' margins ofs'the' shee'ts orf in airetracted inon-supportingaposition' outside of the vertical planes in -Whioh said -faces lie-,'meanss fovmoving saidi sheet: supporting-mechanisms independently ofrthe m'ovement 'of said side xguide structures to position saidn horizontally extending members: inizsheeti' engaging". or non-engaging position, and means for synchronizing the movement: of 'said sheet 'supportingumechanisms.

9. Asheetpiler. comprising a magnetic conveyor for forwarding metal sheets iand releasing the sameifor 'deposit on aapile" beneath/the conveyor i'asupporting frame 'mounted aboversaid conveyor, oppositely disposed sides-- a guides having vertical :guide faces movably' positioned beneath .said supporting frameand said conveyor, means -on said supportingirame' and,connected tosaid- -side =guides for moving said :side guides towardiandrfrom each other to-position the=vertica1= faces thereof inspaced relation in-accordancewith' the" width of the sheetsbeing I. piled, sheete'dge supporting mechanisms on' each of said 'side guides means-mounting said sheet edge "supporting -'tnechanisms' forr niovement in :a' horizental planeand in ofthe" faces bf the sMe gu'ides,- the I g mechanismshaving portions extending owalrd ea'ch other ai dimovable horizdntally into extended position inwai dly ofithe opposed faces of said'side guides c-thereby'ft enga'ge in 'siipp'orting relation-beneath the-side nia'rgiris bf thefisheetssaid-mountin means comprising horizontal track tne'nibers extending outwardly of said side guides, earria'ge formin brackets on said sheet "engaging poi'tions and means conne'cting -said -'-brackets and said track niembers for movement *of said 5 brackets a 'horizontal plane, :andmeans for' moving said sheet --'engaging portions to position the" same at selected dis- -stancesinwardly-of said-opposedfaces.

1? References Cited in the fileof this patent UN TI ED STATES PATENTS I' 1',951,'1-78 wsmitma'nsie -Mar. 1 3, 1934 2,315,003 1 'ivia'rtin et a1. -Mar. 30, 1943 2,521,911 Buccicone e Oct.'=31, 1950 2,606,483 -Forbes -Aug. 12, 1952 2,733,921 Downs :Feb. 7, 1956 

